System and method for removing material from a sloping surface

ABSTRACT

A system for removing material from a sloping surface includes a plurality of cables and pulleys used to manipulate positioning of a slusher bucket across the sloping surface. A multiple drum winch communicates with the cables to selectively retract or feed the cables enabling precise positioning of the slusher bucket. An elevated upper transverse anchoring cable is used to secure one or more of the pulleys. The anchoring cable itself can be mounted to the ground by one or more ground anchors. According to another aspect of the invention, it includes an improved slusher bucket configuration with two working edges. A preferred embodiment of the bucket configuration includes a scraper edge and scarifying teeth located on another working edge.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/449,950 filed on Jan. 24, 2017, this Provisional Application beingincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are many methods for removing bulk material encountered in miningoperations, excavations, construction work, and other worksites. Oneknown method for removing bulk materials that becomes dislodged inmining operations is use of a “slusher” machine. Generally, a slushermachine can be described as a large scraper bucket attached to draglines in which the bucket is pulled by a winch to capture and displacethe bulk material. In mining operations, the slusher machine may includea double drum hoist. The winch may be either driven by an electrical orcompressed air motor. One cable is attached to the front portion of thebucket so that it can be pulled towards the winch. The other cable isattached to the rear portion of the bucket and routed through a pulleyblock fastened at the far end of the slusher drift. The cables of thedrum hoist are independently operated to allow rear movement of thebucket or to retract the bucket so that it can be repeatedly pulled orextended for multiple passes.

It is also known to use a slusher machine to remove bulk material onsloping surfaces, such as excavations made for road construction. Inthis particular application, the slusher machine may include a tripledrum hoist in which three cables are used to manipulate the position ofthe scraper bucket on the sloping surface. The second and third cablesin this application are secured to the side or rear portion of thebucket and routed around respective pairs of pulley blocks secured tothe upper end of the sloping surface. One or pairs of the cables may bemanipulated in order to move the scraper bucket up and down along thesloping surface, or to traverse the bucket laterally across the slopingsurface.

Although slusher machines have been used extensively in variousapplications, there are a number of basic drawbacks with the machinesand methods of use. One problem associated with slusher machines used onsloping surfaces is that lateral movement of the bucket across thesloping surface is limited based upon the particular location where thesecond and third cables are secured to the respective pulley blocks. Asoperations proceed for removing bulk materials on the sloping surface,the anchored pulley blocks must be repositioned to accommodate desiredlateral transverse movement of the bucket. Another disadvantageassociated with currently known methods of slushing a sloping surface isthe type of anchors used for the pulley blocks; the anchors oftenrequire significant time and effort for installation. Yet anotherdisadvantage associated with slushing operations is the construction ofthe scraper bucket that has a single scraping or working edge.

The system and method of the present invention are intended to addressthe disadvantages and drawbacks associated with the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, a slusher device and method are provided forenhancing the capability for removing bulk materials from slopingsurfaces. According to one aspect of the invention, it can be considereda system for removing bulk materials from a sloping surface including asystem of supporting cables to enhance the ability of the slusher bucketto be selectively positioned across the sloping surface. The cablesinclude an upper transverse anchoring cable positioned at the top oradjacent the top portion of the sloping surface. This upper transverseanchoring cable is used to provide a continuous anchoring point for thepulley blocks of the system. More specifically, the transverse anchoringcable extends across a selected length of the sloping surface for whichbulk materials are to be removed. The pulley blocks may be selectivelysecured to the anchoring cable at any selected points on the cable inorder to precisely and more easily control positioning the slusherbucket without having to remove and reset the location of structure usedto anchor the pulleys.

According to another feature of the invention, it includes an improvedslusher bucket construction in which one surface provides a scraperblade and another surface provides scraper teeth or scarifying teeth.

According to yet another feature of the invention, it includes animproved configuration for securing the traversing anchor cable to theupper portion of the sloping surface.

According to yet another feature of the invention, it includes animproved method of removing bulk materials from a sloping surface inwhich the drag lines of the slusher bucket can be quickly andincrementally repositioned.

Considering the above characteristics and features of the invention, ina first aspect of the invention, it may be considered a systemespecially adapted for removing materials from a sloping surface, saidsystem comprising: a slusher bucket; a plurality of cables connected tothe slusher bucket for selectively moving the slusher bucket along asloping surface; a plurality of pulleys communicating with a pluralityof cables to control the selective movement of the slusher bucket; awinch assembly having a plurality of drums which control movement of theplurality of cables; and an upper transverse anchoring cable located ata selected position at or near an upper surface of the sloping surface,wherein one or more of the plurality of pulleys is secured to saidanchoring cable.

According to a second aspect of the invention, it may be considered amethod of selectively positioning cables used to control operation of aslusher bucket on a sloping surface, comprising: providing a slusherbucket connected to a system of cables and pulleys used to controlmovement of the slusher bucket on the sloping surface to remove bulkmaterials; providing an upper transverse anchoring cable that traversesa selected portion of the sloping surface to be worked, said anchoringcable being elevated above the ground to which the anchoring cable ismounted; securing one or more pulleys to said anchoring cable; andselectively positioning and repositioning the pulleys on said anchoringcable to achieve desired control of the slusher bucket as it is moved upand down the sloping surface and as it is moved laterally across thesloping surface.

According to a third aspect of the invention, it may be considered asystem especially adapted for removing materials from a sloping surface,said system comprising: a contact implement; a plurality of cablesconnected to the contact implement for selectively moving the contactimplement along a sloping surface; a plurality of pulleys communicatingwith a plurality of cables to control the selective movement of thecontact implement; a winch assembly having a plurality of drums whichcontrol movement of the plurality of cables; and an upper transverseanchoring cable located at a selected position on or adjacent thesloping surface, wherein one or more of the plurality of pulleys issecured to said upper transverse anchoring cable and said uppertransverse anchoring cable is separated from and not connected to saidwinch assembly.

Additional optional features of this first, second, or third aspect mayfurther include: said anchoring cable is elevated above the ground overwhich said anchoring cable is mounted; said anchoring cable has firstand second ends, each end of said anchoring cable being anchored to theground by one or more ground anchors; said one or more ground anchorsinclude a plurality of ground anchors interconnected to an adjacent endof said anchoring cable by corresponding connecting cables; a mountingassembly for securing said transverse anchoring cable to the ground,said mounting assembly including a cable ring attached to each oppositeend of said anchoring cable, and a plurality of ground anchors attachedto each cable ring by a corresponding plurality of connecting cables;said upper transverse anchoring cable includes a plurality of cablesconnected to one another, end to end, and wherein at least one cable ofsaid plurality of cables extends in a different direction as compared tothe other cables; said upper transverse anchoring cable extendslinearly; and said upper transverse anchoring cable has a plurality ofsegments that extend linearly, and at least one segment of saidplurality of segments extends in a different direction.

It should also be understood that any of the aspects of the inventionmay be considered in sub-combination as inventions falling within thescope of the invention. For example, with respect to the system of theinvention, one sub-combination includes the upper transverse anchoringcable located at a selected position at or near an upper surface of thesloping surface, wherein one or more of the plurality of pulleys issecured to the anchoring cable. For further example, with respect to themethod of the invention, another sub-combination includes the methodwherein the anchoring cable is provided and then selectively positioningand repositioning pulleys on the anchoring cable to achieve desiredcontrol of the slusher bucket as it may be moved up and down the slopingsurface and/or as it may be moved laterally across the sloping surface.

Other features and aspects of the invention will become apparent by areview of the drawings accompanying with the detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the system of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a perspective view of the system;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a plan view of the system in analternate embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a plan view of the system in a furtheralternate embodiment;

FIG. 5 is another schematic diagram of a perspective view of the systemin a further alternate embodiment; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a slusher or scraper bucket especiallyadapted for use in the system and method of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a system of the invention that includes drag lines orcables and pulleys that are arranged to move a device that contacts asurface to be worked. The device may include a slusher or scraperbucket; however, the device can include other tools or implements thatare capable of removing material along the surface to be worked. Forexample, the device may include a scraper implement that may or may notinclude a bucket. Therefore, the slusher or scraper bucket of theinvention can be more broadly defined as a contact implement thatincludes at least one scraping or contact surface for forcibly removingmaterial from the surface to be worked.

FIG. 1 more specifically illustrates a sloping surface S in which bulkmaterial must be removed, such as a sloping surface next to a roadway orbridge. Schematically, the sloping surface S is defined between a base Band a top or upper surface U. The plurality of cables include a firstcable 14 routed around a first pulley 24 at or near the upper surface U.One end of the cable 14 is secured to a corresponding outside drum 36 ofa three drum winch assembly 32. A second end of the cable 14 is securedto an up-slope corner edge of a slushing bucket 30. A second cable 16has a first end that is secured to an opposite up-slope corner edge ofthe bucket 30. The second cable 16 is routed around another pulley 22located at or near the upper surface U. The second end of the secondcable 16 is secured to another corresponding outside drum 38 of thethree-drum winch assembly 32. A third cable 18 has a first end attachedto a down-slope end of the slusher bucket 30 and a second end attachedto a corresponding interior drum 34 of the three drum winch 32. Thewinch assembly 32 is shown as mounted to a vehicle V.

In order to raise or lower the slusher bucket 30 along the slope S, thewinches are operated to retract or feed/extend the respective cables.For example, if it were desired to raise the bucket 30 straight up theslope, outside winches 36 and 38 would be operated to retract the cablesthereby shortening the available lengths of the cables 14 and 16. If itwere desired to lower the bucket 30, winch 34 would be operated toretract cable 18, and drums 38 and 36 would be unlocked so cables 14 and16 could be extended. If it is desired to move the bucket 30 laterallyacross the slope to the right as the bucket 30 appears in this figure,winch 36 would be operated to retract cable 14 and drum 38 would beunlocked so cable 16 could be extended. It was desired to move thebucket 30 to the left as it appears in this figure, winch 38 would beoperated to retract cable 16 and drum 36 would be unlocked so cable 14could be extended. If it were desired to move the bucket 30 diagonallyup or down the slope, the winches can be independently operated toretract or extend the cable lengths to achieve the desired diagonalmovement.

Although the system of FIG. 1 has been shown to be effective for workinga sloping surface, one significant drawback is that the pulleys 22 and24 in a prior art system are secured to the upper surface U of the slopeS by a pair of conventional ground anchors (not shown) that arepositioned at the location of the pulleys. If it is desired to work adifferent section of the slope, both anchors have to be removed andre-secured to the desired laterally displaced locations. Particularlyfor larger slopes that must be worked, the relocation of the groundanchors presents additional work and a significant time delay.

According to the invention, an upper transverse anchoring cable 40 isprovided that allows the pulleys 22 and 24 to be shifted laterallyacross the slope S with greatly reduced time and manpower requirements.The transverse anchoring cable 40 is located at a desired position alongthe upper surface U and is directionally oriented with the working faceof the slope S. Each end of the cable 40 is secured by one or moreground anchors 42. According to the embodiment of FIG. 1, each end ofthe cable 40 is secured by a pair of ground anchors 42. A pair ofconnecting cable sections 44 is attached to the corresponding end thecable 40 by one or more cable clamps 28. Reference number 28 usedthroughout the figures denotes one or more cable clamps at theillustrated locations.

It should also be apparent from the drawings that the upper transverseanchoring cable 40 is located at a selected position on or adjacent thesloping surface, wherein one or more of the plurality of pulleys issecured to the upper transverse anchoring cable and the upper transverseanchoring cable is separated from and not connected to or controlled bythe winch assembly 32.

One preferred construction for the ground anchors 42 could include adrilled hole that receives the cable anchor and then grouted in place.For many applications, a 3 inch diameter hole, 20 foot deep, is adequatefor anchoring a ¾ inch cable. The height of the cable 40 above the uppersurface U can be selected so that the cable 40 clears any obstructions,it being understood that the specific height shown in FIG. 1 is forillustrative purposes only and is not to scale.

Referring to FIG. 2, the system of the invention is further shown in across-sectional view in which the slusher bucket 30 is shown asconnected to the arrangement cables and pulleys so that the bucket 30may work the slope S. As shown, the cable 40 is mounted near the crestof the slope where the upper surface U is located. The upper surface Uas illustrated has a greater horizontal component as compared to theslope S. However, it should be understood that the cable 40 could bemounted on the sloping surface S and therefore, mounting of the cable 40is not limited to any particular location on the jobsite. Under mostcircumstances, it is desirable to mount the cable 40 at a positionhigher than the surface to be worked so that the slusher bucket may makecomplete passes along the surface to be worked and therefore allowingthe cable 40 to accommodate working of all portions of the slopingsurface S.

FIG. 3 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the invention in which thetransverse anchoring cable 40 includes a pair of cables 46. The generalarrangement of the other cables of the system is the same as isillustrated in FIG. 1. Accordingly, the same reference numbers used inthis figure correspond to the same elements from FIG. 1. The pulleys 22and 24 can be mounted to one or both of the cables 46 according toconventional techniques in which one or more cable clamps 28 are used.

FIG. 4 illustrates another preferred embodiment of the invention inwhich the transverse anchoring cable 40 is anchored differently. Asshown, each end of the cable 40 is secured to a cable ring 50. Each ofthe cable rings 50 is secured by a plurality of connecting cables 52 andcorresponding ground anchors 54. FIG. 4 more specifically illustratesthree connecting cables 52 and three ground anchors 54 for each cablering 50. This particular arrangement, as one skilled in the art shouldappreciate, provides a very robust and flexible anchoring capability inwhich each of the ground anchors 54 can be selectively located toprovide additional and redundant anchoring strength for the cable 40.

Although one length of cable 40 is illustrated in the figures, theinvention also includes an embodiment that incorporates multiple lengthsof cable 40 that can be connected end to end, with each length of cableoriented at different angles to follow the contour of a slope to beworked. Most exposed sloping surfaces to be worked are not uniformlyplaner; therefore, a single length of cable may not be adequate to allowincremental positioning of the bucket across all sections of the slopingsurface. That is, the sloping surface to be worked may have sectionsthat jut out, while other sections are recessed, while yet othersections of the slope may have exposed faces that turn in differentdirections, such as an exposed sloping face cut from a rounded hill. Inthis regard, a plurality of cables 40 can be selectively positioned sothat each section of the slope is accessible with the bucket. Referringto FIG. 5, the system of the invention is therefore illustrated in yetanother preferred embodiment in which there are a plurality of cables 40positioned to follow the shape or contour of the sloping surface S. Asshown, there is a large recess or cavity in the sloping surface S, andcable S is oriented at that location in a V-shape to follow the contourof the recess. The change in direction of the cables 40 are accommodatedby two intermediate ground anchors 42.

Instead of adopting multiple lengths of cable, the upper transverseanchoring cable 40 may be one continuous cable with a plurality ofsegments that each extend linearly, and at least one segment of theplurality of segments extends in a different direction to accommodatethe particular contour or shape of the slope. A change in direction ofthe continuous cable is again accommodated by one or more ground anchors42, such as shown in FIG. 5, that connect to the continuous cable andare selectively positioned to provide the desired traversing orientationof the cable along the upper surface of the slope.

According to a method of the invention, one or more of the pulleyslocated at the upper end or upper portion of the slope to be worked bythe slusher bucket may be selectively repositioned. Specifically, thepulleys may be shifted laterally across slope, and may be selectivelyspaced closer or farther apart from one another so that the slusherbucket can be selectively and incrementally moved along the slope ascontrolled by a multiple drum winch.

It should be understood that FIGS. 1-5 are schematic diagrams, and thesize and shape of the elements, their spacing with one another, toinclude the illustrated lengths of the cables, are for illustrativepurposes only. Therefore the size, shape, spacing and lengths of theelements illustrated are not to scale.

FIG. 6 illustrates another aspect of the invention in the form of aslusher bucket 60 with dual capabilities. The slusher bucket 60 includesa bail 62 and adjacent sidewalls 64 which form the cavity or pocket toreceive bulk materials as the bucket is dragged along the slopingsurface. One or more support arms 66 interconnect the bucket to aconnection point where one of the drag lines or cables is secured, theconnection point shown as cable eye 72. A first working edge of thebucket 60 includes a scraper blade 68. The scraper blade 68 isreplaceable. An opposite side of the bucket includes a plurality ofscarifying teeth 70. These scarifying teeth 70 are also replaceable. Askilled winch operator is able to present either the scraper blade 68 orscarifying teeth 70 against the sloping surface. In other words, theoperator is capable of flipping the bucket 60 by manipulation of thecables to selectively scrape the sloping surface with the scraper blade68, or to use the teeth 72 to scarify the sloping surface, such as todislodge rocks embedded along the sloping surface. Accordingly, thebucket 60 provides dual capabilities as compared to single capabilitybuckets of the prior art.

By review of the following detailed description and drawings, it shouldbe apparent that there are numerous advantages of the invention. Withrespect to the upper transverse anchoring cable, this cable enablesslushing operations to be conducted such that ground anchors for theupper pulleys do not have to be repositioned as the bucket ismanipulated laterally across the sloping surface. The slusher bucket hastwo distinct working edges that allow the same slusher bucket to be usedto scrape or scarify the surface to be worked.

Although the invention is illustrated with respect to multipleembodiments, it should be understood that various changes andmodifications to the invention are contemplated herein commensurate withthe scope of the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system especially adapted for removingmaterials from a sloping surface, said system comprising: a slusherbucket; a plurality of cables connected to the slusher bucket forselectively moving the slusher bucket along a sloping surface; aplurality of pulleys communicating with a plurality of cables to controlthe selective movement of the slusher bucket; a winch assembly having aplurality of drums which control movement of the plurality of cables;and an upper transverse anchoring cable located at a selected positionat or near an upper surface of the sloping surface, wherein one or moreof the plurality of pulleys is secured to said anchoring cable.
 2. Asystem, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said anchoring cable is elevatedabove the ground over which said anchoring cable is mounted.
 3. Asystem, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said anchoring cable has firstand second ends, each end of said anchoring cable being anchored to theground by one or more ground anchors.
 4. A system, as claimed in claim3, wherein: said one or more ground anchors include a plurality ofground anchors interconnected to an adjacent end of said anchoring cableby corresponding connecting cables.
 5. A system, as claimed in claim 1,further including: a mounting assembly for securing said transverseanchoring cable to the ground, said mounting assembly including a cablering attached to each opposite end of said anchoring cable, and aplurality of ground anchors attached to each cable ring by acorresponding plurality of connecting cables.
 6. A system, as claimed inclaim 1, wherein: said upper transverse anchoring cable includes aplurality of cables connected to one another, end to end, and wherein atleast one cable of said plurality of cables extends in a differentdirection as compared to the other cables.
 7. A system, as claimed inclaim 1, wherein: said upper transverse anchoring cable extendslinearly.
 8. A system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said uppertransverse anchoring cable has a plurality of segments that extendlinearly, and at least one segment of said plurality of segments extendsin a different direction.
 9. A method of selectively positioning cablesused to control operation of a slusher bucket on a sloping surface,comprising: providing a slusher bucket connected to a system of cablesand pulleys used to control movement of the slusher bucket on thesloping surface to remove bulk materials; providing an upper transverseanchoring cable that traverses a selected portion of the sloping surfaceto be worked, said anchoring cable being elevated above the ground towhich the anchoring cable is mounted; securing one or more pulleys tosaid anchoring cable; and selectively positioning and repositioning thepulleys on said anchoring cable to achieve desired control of theslusher bucket as it is moved up and down the sloping surface and as itis moved laterally across the sloping surface.
 10. A slusher bucketcomprising: a bail; a pair of laterally spaced sidewalls connected toopposite ends of said bail; at least one support arm extending away fromsaid bail; an eye communicating with a free end of said at least onesupport arm for connection to a cable; a first working surface of saidbucket including a scraper surface; and a second working surface of saidbucket including a plurality of scarifying teeth, said second workingsurface being located on an opposite side of said bail.
 11. A systemespecially adapted for removing materials from a sloping surface, saidsystem comprising: a contact implement; a plurality of cables connectedto the contact implement for selectively moving the contact implementalong a sloping surface; at least one pulley communicating with at leastone of the plurality of cables to control the selective movement of thecontact implement; a winch assembly having a plurality of drums tocontrol movement of the plurality of cables; and an upper transverseanchoring cable located at a selected position on or adjacent thesloping surface, wherein the at least one pulley is secured to saidupper transverse anchoring cable and said upper transverse anchoringcable is separated from and not connected to said winch assembly.
 12. Asystem, as claimed in claim 11, wherein: said anchoring cable iselevated above the ground over which said anchoring cable is mounted.13. A system, as claimed in claim 11, wherein: said anchoring cable hasfirst and second ends, each end of said anchoring cable being anchoredto the ground by one or more ground anchors.
 14. A system, as claimed inclaim 13, wherein: said one or more ground anchors include a pluralityof ground anchors interconnected to an adjacent end of said anchoringcable by corresponding connecting cables.
 15. A system, as claimed inclaim 11, further including: a mounting assembly for securing saidtransverse anchoring cable to the ground, said mounting assemblyincluding a cable ring attached to each opposite end of said anchoringcable, and a plurality of ground anchors attached to each cable ring bya corresponding plurality of connecting cables.
 16. A system, as claimedin claim 11, wherein: said upper transverse anchoring cable includes aplurality of cables connected to one another, end to end, and wherein atleast one cable of said plurality of cables extends in a differentdirection as compared to the other cables.
 17. A system, as claimed inclaim 11, wherein: said upper transverse anchoring cable extendslinearly.
 18. A system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said uppertransverse anchoring cable has a plurality of segments that extendlinearly, and at least one segment of said plurality of segments extendsin a different direction.